Compare towns
Dracut vs Hooksett vs Williston vs Lowell
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hooksett has the most affordable homes ($407k median).
Williston has the most people working from home (22.3%).
Lowell has the most renters (56.8% rent).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Dracut | Hooksett | Williston | Lowell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 32,574 |
15,057 |
10,144Lowest |
118,368Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.7±2 7% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5 6% above U.S. |
45.4±4.5Highest 17% above U.S. |
35.6±0.8Lowest 8% below U.S. |
| Williston and Dracut are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.4%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
21.7%±1.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Lowell and Dracut are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.2%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
12.6%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Williston and Dracut are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
9.7%±0.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Lowell and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $114,036±$10k 41% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$106,967±$12k 32% above U.S. |
$78,658±$4kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Hooksett and Dracut are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $473,900±$17k 42% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26kLowest 22% above U.S. |
$475,800±$40kHighest 43% above U.S. |
$429,200±$11k 29% above U.S. |
| Williston and Dracut are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,839±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,661±$206 18% above U.S. |
$1,832±$130 30% above U.S. |
$1,625±$40Lowest 15% above U.S. |
| Dracut and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,375 72% above U.S. |
$6,554Highest 110% above U.S. |
$5,592 79% above U.S. |
$4,499Lowest 44% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.6%±7.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.4%±3.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dracut and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
16.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
43.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1953Lowest 27 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 15% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.4%±2 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.6%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Williston and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #201 of 282 in MA | #30 of 120 in NH | #11 of 70 in VT | #255 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dracut | Hooksett School District | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Lowell |
| High school in town | Dracut Senior High | None in town | None in town | Lowell High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Lowest |
— | — | 14.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.